[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
who'd wrapped around his heart with her generosity and passion? Or the thief who'd masterminded a
phenomenal sabotage?
For the first time he realized his CIA training would do him no good in this situation. Nothing had ever
prepared him to fall in love with his subject.
* * *
"You're sure about this?" John asked skeptically.
Paul hardened his resolve. "We have to use every angle we can. I've obviously lost my objectivity. I
need a clear head, an unbiased analysis."
John frowned. "I thought you were certain about Katherine's innocence."
Paul pushed one hand through his hair. "I am. I was. Hell, I'm not sure. That's why I need you."
"And now you're ready to pull her friend Jessica into it, as well?" John asked with continuing skepticism.
"I realize this goes against everything I've said so far, but I have to know the truth about Katherine." Paul
turned, staring at the kids who walked into the ice-cream store across the street. "I'd hoped we would
have the results of the investigation into her former business by now." He shrugged. "Without them& "
"You need Jessica," John stated baldly, "and whatever she knows."
"Exactly."
"And you also want me to observe Katherine myself?" John asked with a raised brow. "That could be
dicey."
"It goes to my point about objectivity. I've lost mine. I need yours."
"So we're going to socialize together? The four of us?"
Paul couldn't dredge up even a portion of a smile. "It may be the most dangerous double date you've
ever been on, my friend."
John clapped a hand on Paul's shoulder. "And Katherine may be exactly what she seems. That would be
worth proving, too."
"Either way, this thing is going to explode in my face with nuclear potential," Paul replied glumly. "And
I'm worried about who I'm going to take down with me."
"The child?" John guessed.
Paul lifted his bleak gaze, meeting John's eyes, revealing a portion of his pain. "And his mother."
* * *
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Moss-bearded Palmetto trees poked their shaggy heads toward the darkening sky, while red and
orange streaks bled into the blue-gray palette. Much like the sluggish pace of the low country, the sun
sank lazily, silhouetting the fleet of docked fishing boats.
Lights strung from the piers dotted the black waters of the sea. Music poured from the street dance
along with the laughter of tourists and residents alike. Food, spirits, art and entertainment. It filled the
streets, mingling with the dancers.Harbourfest brought out tourists wishing for a memorable sunset, along
with residents eager to reap the rewards of their respective trades.
"Anyone hungry?" Elliott asked,his arm looped over Katherine's shoulder.
"I am," she answered, enjoying the scents and sounds of the festival. "I want something from the Gullah
vendor."
"Gullah?"
"It's a low-country culture heritage, actually."
"Fine with me," Jessica said. John, who stood next to her, nodded, as well.
They moved through the crowd to the food booths. A smiling black woman took their orders,then
turned to fill the plates with the delicious-smelling food.
As they waited, Katherine stroked asweetgrass basket that was on display. "It's made by local
weavers," she explained. "Also part of the Gullah culture."
"I'd like to hear more about that," Elliott commented, but his gaze was on Jessica and John.
Katherine lifted her brow in a conspiratorial gesture. "Sure."
But just then the woman had their food ready. As she handed out the aromatic portions, she spoke to
them in a language that, while somewhat familiar, still clearly puzzled Elliott and John.
"It's a combination of Queen's English, American English and an African dialect," Jessica explained,
smiling in return as she accepted her food.
"The Carolinas have a complicated blend of traditions," Katherine added.
"I can't quite decide if this is a Southern town or a seaside town," John admitted.
"It's both," Jessica said. "Don't the Yankees consider Boston both coastal and Eastern?"
"Touché," Katherine inserted, looking between her friend and John. She and Jessica had both been
surprised and pleased when John had contacted Jessica, first setting up a date, then expressing a wish to
become involved with her friends.
Seeing their attention was on each other, Katherine whispered to Elliott as they found a table, "They
seem to be a great match."
He glanced up cautiously as he pulled out her chair. "Uh, yeah."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"That wasn't very enthusiastic," she complained. "Don't you like him?"
Elliott shrugged as he sat down, not looking at her. "Too soon to tell."
"Well, I think Jessica likes him. I hope he makes her forget she ever met Rod."
"Still on his case?"
"No. But I like John better."
"Your food'sgetting cold," Elliott said, picking up his cup of beer and downing a healthy portion.
"Oh." Katherine took a bite, wondering why Elliott was acting so jumpy. He hadn't seemed this
uncomfortable since he'd first returned. Once again he looked as though he'd put on someone else's skin.
"Jessica was right."
"About what?" Elliott lifted his fork.
"John does seem more interested in us than we are in him."
Elliott made a choking noise.
"Did that go down the wrong way?" Katherine asked. "Hold up your left arm."
"Why?" he asked, still choking.
"I don't know, but it works."
Obligingly he held up his arm, his gaze still on her while she pounded his back.
"Isn't that better?" she asked. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl wyciskamy.pev.pl
who'd wrapped around his heart with her generosity and passion? Or the thief who'd masterminded a
phenomenal sabotage?
For the first time he realized his CIA training would do him no good in this situation. Nothing had ever
prepared him to fall in love with his subject.
* * *
"You're sure about this?" John asked skeptically.
Paul hardened his resolve. "We have to use every angle we can. I've obviously lost my objectivity. I
need a clear head, an unbiased analysis."
John frowned. "I thought you were certain about Katherine's innocence."
Paul pushed one hand through his hair. "I am. I was. Hell, I'm not sure. That's why I need you."
"And now you're ready to pull her friend Jessica into it, as well?" John asked with continuing skepticism.
"I realize this goes against everything I've said so far, but I have to know the truth about Katherine." Paul
turned, staring at the kids who walked into the ice-cream store across the street. "I'd hoped we would
have the results of the investigation into her former business by now." He shrugged. "Without them& "
"You need Jessica," John stated baldly, "and whatever she knows."
"Exactly."
"And you also want me to observe Katherine myself?" John asked with a raised brow. "That could be
dicey."
"It goes to my point about objectivity. I've lost mine. I need yours."
"So we're going to socialize together? The four of us?"
Paul couldn't dredge up even a portion of a smile. "It may be the most dangerous double date you've
ever been on, my friend."
John clapped a hand on Paul's shoulder. "And Katherine may be exactly what she seems. That would be
worth proving, too."
"Either way, this thing is going to explode in my face with nuclear potential," Paul replied glumly. "And
I'm worried about who I'm going to take down with me."
"The child?" John guessed.
Paul lifted his bleak gaze, meeting John's eyes, revealing a portion of his pain. "And his mother."
* * *
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Moss-bearded Palmetto trees poked their shaggy heads toward the darkening sky, while red and
orange streaks bled into the blue-gray palette. Much like the sluggish pace of the low country, the sun
sank lazily, silhouetting the fleet of docked fishing boats.
Lights strung from the piers dotted the black waters of the sea. Music poured from the street dance
along with the laughter of tourists and residents alike. Food, spirits, art and entertainment. It filled the
streets, mingling with the dancers.Harbourfest brought out tourists wishing for a memorable sunset, along
with residents eager to reap the rewards of their respective trades.
"Anyone hungry?" Elliott asked,his arm looped over Katherine's shoulder.
"I am," she answered, enjoying the scents and sounds of the festival. "I want something from the Gullah
vendor."
"Gullah?"
"It's a low-country culture heritage, actually."
"Fine with me," Jessica said. John, who stood next to her, nodded, as well.
They moved through the crowd to the food booths. A smiling black woman took their orders,then
turned to fill the plates with the delicious-smelling food.
As they waited, Katherine stroked asweetgrass basket that was on display. "It's made by local
weavers," she explained. "Also part of the Gullah culture."
"I'd like to hear more about that," Elliott commented, but his gaze was on Jessica and John.
Katherine lifted her brow in a conspiratorial gesture. "Sure."
But just then the woman had their food ready. As she handed out the aromatic portions, she spoke to
them in a language that, while somewhat familiar, still clearly puzzled Elliott and John.
"It's a combination of Queen's English, American English and an African dialect," Jessica explained,
smiling in return as she accepted her food.
"The Carolinas have a complicated blend of traditions," Katherine added.
"I can't quite decide if this is a Southern town or a seaside town," John admitted.
"It's both," Jessica said. "Don't the Yankees consider Boston both coastal and Eastern?"
"Touché," Katherine inserted, looking between her friend and John. She and Jessica had both been
surprised and pleased when John had contacted Jessica, first setting up a date, then expressing a wish to
become involved with her friends.
Seeing their attention was on each other, Katherine whispered to Elliott as they found a table, "They
seem to be a great match."
He glanced up cautiously as he pulled out her chair. "Uh, yeah."
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"That wasn't very enthusiastic," she complained. "Don't you like him?"
Elliott shrugged as he sat down, not looking at her. "Too soon to tell."
"Well, I think Jessica likes him. I hope he makes her forget she ever met Rod."
"Still on his case?"
"No. But I like John better."
"Your food'sgetting cold," Elliott said, picking up his cup of beer and downing a healthy portion.
"Oh." Katherine took a bite, wondering why Elliott was acting so jumpy. He hadn't seemed this
uncomfortable since he'd first returned. Once again he looked as though he'd put on someone else's skin.
"Jessica was right."
"About what?" Elliott lifted his fork.
"John does seem more interested in us than we are in him."
Elliott made a choking noise.
"Did that go down the wrong way?" Katherine asked. "Hold up your left arm."
"Why?" he asked, still choking.
"I don't know, but it works."
Obligingly he held up his arm, his gaze still on her while she pounded his back.
"Isn't that better?" she asked. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]